Buckle-type paper folding machine



Sept 7, 1954 H. BOBLIT, SR ET AL BUCKLE-TYPE PAPER FOLDING MACHINE 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July l1. 1949 Sept. 1954 l H, BOBLJT, 5R ET AL2,688,482

BUCKLE-TYPE PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 1l. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gong o o o 5 G s 8 l u m: WI EN Ns f mm.

ATTORNEYS Sept. 7, 1954 H, BOBUT, SR ET AL 2,688,482

BUCKLE-TYPE PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed July l1. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTOP/VEVS Sept. 7, 3954 H. BoBLnT, SR ET AL BUCKLE-TYPE PAPER FOLDINGMACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 11. 1949 lOl Patented Sept. 7, 1954i UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,688,485?. BUCKLE-TYPE PAPER FOLDINGMACHINE Application July 11, 1949, Serial No. 104,082

(Cl. 27o-68) 17 Claims.

Our invention relates to a paper folding machine. It has to do, moreparticularly, with a paper folding machine of that type known as thebuckle-type paper folding machine. In general, this type of machineembodies means for producing a buckling action on the paper to forniparallel folds therein.

More specifically, this type of paper folding machine includes a feedingunit, a folding unit, and a delivery unit. The feeding unit serves tofeed sheets of paper successively into the folding unit. The foldingunit receives such sheets successively and produces in each successivesheet the selected number of folds in parallel relationship. The foldingunit consists of a plurality of feeding and folding rollers arranged insuccessive pairs, the rollers of each pair cooperating with each otherto feed the sheets therebetween. Associated With each pair of rollersfor receiving the sheet therefrom is a fold plate or pan having anadjustable stop bar thereon. As the sheet is fed between the pair ofrollers, it enters into the fold plate or pan and its free end engagesthe stop bar thereon. Continued feeding of the sheet causes it to buckleand the next pair of rollers is so arranged that it receives the buckledportion and as it passes between such rollers forms a permanent creaseor fold therein. From the second set of rollers the folded end of thesheet is fed into another fold plate or pan into arrangement with thestop bar thereof and another buckle isproduced, the buckled portionbeing fed between the next two folding'rollers. This operation isrepeated over and over depending upon the number of sets of rollers andassociated fold plates which are provided in the folding unit. Thefolded sheets are received from the folding unit by the delivery unitfrom which they may be removed.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a folding machine ofthe type indicated wherein the supporting frame is of a one-pieceunitary structure which can be fabricated at a low cost from a singlepiece of sheet metal and which will, due to its extreme rigidity,maintain all of the units of the machine in proper association with eachother and all parts of each unit in proper association with each other.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel support for thepaper retarder which cooperates With the feed roller of the paperfeeding unit, such support permitting simple and quick adjustment of theretarder of such unit relative to the feed roller to compensate forwear.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine of the generaltype indicated wherein the feeding and folding rollers of the foldingunit are arranged in a novel manner to facilitate the necessaryadjustment of adjacent rollers.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine of the typeindicated in the preceding paragraph wherein the feeding and foldingrollers are arranged in vertically disposed pairs with the lower rollerof each succeeding pair opposite the upper roller of the preceding pair.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine of this typewherein \the bearings of each successive vertically disposed pair ofrollers are carried by novel bearing supports which serve to force oneof the rollers into contact with the other with a selected pressure,such pressure being variable and the bearing supports being adjustableto compensate for difference in thicknesses of sheets which the machineis adapted to fold.

Another object of our invention is to provide bearing supports of thetype indicated which `permit removal, in case of jamming of paperbetween rollers, and replacement of each pair of vertically disposedrollers.

Still another object of our invention is to provide bearing supports forpairs of vertically disposed rollers, the supports permitting theadjustment of one pair of rollers towards the other.

Another object of our invention is to provide simple means forsupporting the fold plates or pans of the folding unit in such a mannerthat they may be easily removed and replaced.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a pan or fold plateof novel structure which has means forming a part thereof that can beselectively positioned either to block off such fold plate or to permituse of such fold plate.

Another object of our invention is to provide simple adjustable membersfor supporting one of the shafts or rollers which carries the belts ofthe delivery unit that receives the folded sheets from the folding unit,such adjustable members permitting proper tensioning of the belts.

A further object of our invention is to provide a novel type ofdouble-acting ratchet drive which is associated with one of the shaftsor rollers that support the delivery belts.

Various other objects of our invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the drawings and the claims.

The preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designatecorresponding parts and wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a folding machine embodying ourinvention.

Figure la is a vertical sectional view showing the block-off means ofthe fold plate in position to prevent the paper entering such foldplate.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the delivery end of the machine.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the machine.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating 'the arrangement of therollers and fold plates of the folding unit and showing the associatedfeeding and delivery units.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 6 6 of Figure 2and showing abearing supporting unit of one pair of the folding rollers.

Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional View taken along line l-l of Figure.

Figure 18 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially :along line.8--3 of Figure 3 and showing the adjustable support at one end of oneof the rods that aids in supporting the belts of the delivery unit.

vFigure '9 is a detail in plan of the adjustable support .for the'paperretarder associated with the feed roller of the feeding unit.

Figure '.10 is a side elevational view of the structure of Fig-ure 9. f

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the ratchet mechanism which weprovide for driving the delivery belts of the delivery unit.

With'reference tothe drawings, we have illustrated our machine asincluding mainly a feed unit I, a folding unit Y2 and a delivery unit 3.All of vthese units are supported in proper association with'eac'h otherby the frame 4.

Thefraine fi-ispreferablymade of one piece of sheet metal which isproperly folded to form a frame which Ais trough-shaped or U-shaped incross-section as illustrated best in Figure .3. 'liiisframe includes thebottom `wall -5-and the upstanding side walls 6. Before `the sheet ofmetal is bent into trough-like form, all of the necessary openings arepreferably punched therein. rThus, the frame can be economicallyformed.Furthermore, when all `'of the lunits I, 2 and 3 are-disposed betweenthe vside walls and are secured in position the frame will be extremelyrigid. It is not necessary to provide a large number of specialtie rodsbetween the side walls S at the upper edges thereof since the parts ofthe various units iI, 2-and B will serveto rigidly tie theside walls'toeach-other. Howeven'as a supporting means forcertain parts which will bereferredto hereinafter a single-tie rod 'I is provided and extendstransversely between the side walls 1S of the frame. As shown best inFigure 1, this rod is disposed substantiallyhalfway between the forwardand rear-*ends of the frame and substantiallymidway of the height of theside walls (i. The ends of -the rod are fastenedto the side walls bymeans of bolts 'la as shown best inFigure 2.

The feeding unit II includes a chute -8 which is downwardly andrearwardly inclinedand'which serves to feed the sheetsof papersuccessively into association with a feed roller9, as'shown bestinTFigu'res 5 and v1i). Thelower'endl of the chute is disposed betweenthe side walls 6 0f the frame at the rear fand upper corner thereof. Thechute't is of the usual type and isadjustably mounted on the frame 6.The lower.end..of the chute is adjustably connected to the sidewalls 6of the frame for vertical adjustment by means including the lock boltsII (Figures 1 and 4) which pass through arcuate slots I2 in the sidewalls 6 of the frame. The bolts I I can be loosened to permit adjustmentof the chute 8 and can be tightened to hold the chute in adjustedposition. Thus, thechutestructure 8 also serves to aid in rigidly tyingthe side walls I5 of the frame to each other.

The chute .8, as indicated, feeds the sheets of paper successively intoassociation with the feed lroller V9. This feed roller 9 is positivelydriven Yand is carried by the transversely extending shaft I3 which isrotatably mounted in openings formed in the side wallslB of the frame.One end of the shaft 'I3 `(Figure 4) vhas a pulley I4 keyed thereon by-means of which the roller 9 may be driven. The roller 9 is preferablycovered with semi-soft rubber so that it will frictionally engage thepaper.

Associated with the feed roller 9 is the paper retarder I5 of rollerform butnon-rotatable, as shown best in Figures l, 2, 9 and l0. Thisretarder 1I5 is preferably of hard rubber and is adapted to y.contact oralmost contact with the feed lroller 9. Itis Iadjustable towards thefeed roller T9 by asimple mounting which we provide. The retarder I5 iscarried .by an arm I5 which is attached Ito 4and extends rearwardly froma horizontally disposed .paper guiding plate I'I. This plate .IFIiscarriedby the tie rod 'I and extends Yrearwardly therefrom. The arm I6is shown best iniFigures 9.and 10. The arm carries a transverselyextending pin I8 at its rear end upon which va sleeve I9 fis rotatablymounted. The sleeve carriesaneccentric member 2|] which is a fixed partof member I5. The sleeve I9 can be rotated by means of a small handle 2Irigidly secured thereto. Rotation of the sleeve causes the eccentric `2Q'to move `about the axis of the pin I8. This will adjust the member I5towards the rollerLQ. 'A lock nut 22 is threaded on the end of pin'lBandexerts suflicient friction on the end of -sleeve AIll to Vnor-mallyprevent rotation thereof. rllhus, theretarder-:I5-may be adjusted intotight contact .with feedroller'fl and will be held in adjustedpositionby friction. This provides a very simplemeans for adjusting the retarderI5 relativeto the-roller Sito-compensate for wear.

'The-paperguidingplate i'I is adapted to guide thesheetsof -paper intothe folding unit 2. This unit is lmade up of -a plurality of sets offeeding and fielding rollers. These rollers are arranged in`vertically-disnosedpairs and in the unit illustrated '-wehave-shown tworpairs of such rollers althoughit .is -to be understood that any desirednumber of-pairs may be provided. The first pair of 'rollers lconsistsofthe -lower roller 23 and the upper-roller!215,y asshownbest in Figure 1.These rollers extend transversely of the frame and are so .located thatthe-plate I'I will direct the sheets of .papertherebetween. The nextpair of rollers consistszof .thelower roller 25 and the upper roller 26.This-paircfrollers is'dispcsed just ahead of the rollers 23 .and 24 andthe lov/er roller 25 thereofisincontact with the upper roller f4 ofthefirst pair. If itis desirable to provide another pairofrollers, suchpair lwould be disposed ahead of therollers and 26 with the lower rollerof thenextpair in:c0ntact with the upper roller 26. .Any desired numbercf pairs of rollers may be provided depending upon the number of foldstobeproduce'd inthe paper.

The bearings for the shafts of the rollers -23 andSZllareJcarriedbyspecial bearing supporting units '21. Similarly, fthe :shafts of therollers .25

units 28. The units 21 and 28 are practically identical, one or theunits 28 being illustrated in detail in Figures 6 and 7.

The 'unit 28 comprises a bearing-receiving channel or guide 29.V Thismember 29 may be produced simply by cutting from a standard piece ofmetal channel. Within this channel is disposed the bearing members 39for the roller 25 and the bearing member 3l for the roller 25. Thebearing member 30 is provided with an opening for receiving the end ofthe shaft 32 (Figure 2) of the roller 26. The bearing member 3| isprovided with a similar opening for receiving the end of the shaft 33 ofthe roller 25. The bearing 3| is held in fixed position within thechannel 29 by a screw 34. 'I'he bearing member 39, however, is movablevertically within the guide channel. Lateral movement out of the channelis prevented by the roller shaft 32.

For adjusting the bearing 30 vertically an upstanding pin 35 is providedwhich has its lower end anchored at 36 to the bearing. The upper end ofthe pin 35 slidably passes through an opening 31 formed in a transversepin 38 positioned at the upper end of the channel 29. A knurled knob 39is threaded on the threaded upper end 49 of pin 35 and engages the pin39. A spring finger 4I engages the peripheral edge of knob 36 andnormally prevents rotation thereof. A compression spring 42 is disposedbetween pin 39 and the upper surface of bearing 30 around the pin 35. Itwill be apparent that the spring V42 will always urge the bearing 39towards the bearing 3 l. However, the lowermost position of the bearing39 may be adjusted by rotating the knob 39.

It will be apparent that with this arrangement the roller 26 will alwaysbe urged towards the roller 25. These rollers are preferably formed cimetal with roughened peripheries so that they will more'effectively gripthe paper. The knobs 39 can be used in adjusting the roller 26 relativeto the roller 25 to adapt the machine to handling paper of variousthicknesses. Obviously, the unit 28 at each side of the machine is ofthe same construction but is in a reverse position.

The channels 23 are mounted at each side of the machine directly withinthe side walls 6 of the frame and are carried thereby. They are somounted that the roller 25 of the rear pair may be moved forwardly orrearwardly relative to the upper roller 24 of the forward pair. This isaccomplished by having the channel 28 pivoted at 43 intermediate itsupper and lower ends to the side walls 6. The pivot 43 is illustratedbest in Figure 7 and comprises a pin which extends through an opening inthe channel 29. The pin has a head 44 engaging the inner surface of thechannel and a shoulder 45 engaging the inner surface of the side wall 6.It has a threaded reduced end 46 which extends through a slot 46a(Figure 4) in the wall 6 and which receives an acorn nut 41 that engagesthe outer surface of the wall 6. The slot 46a extends from the upperedge of wall 6, where it has an open end, downwardly a sufficient extentto locate channel 29 at the proper level. Thus, the channel 29 isswingably mounted on the pivot pin.

For swinging the lowerend of the channel 29 about the pivot pin 43 andholding it in adjusted position, we provide the pin 59 which is anchoredto the lower end of the channel and to the frame.

This pin is substantially horizontally disposed and has its forward endpassing loosely through an opening 5I in the rear flange of the channel29. A transverse pin 52 in the forward end of 6 pin prevents the pin 50from pulling rearwardly through the opening 5 I. The pin 59 passesrearwardly loosely through an opening 53 in a lug 54 which projectsinwardly from the side wall 6 of the frame and is removably securedthereto by bolt 54a (Figure 2). A nut 55 is threaded on the threadedrear end 56 of pin 50 and engages lug 54. A compression spring 51surrounds pin 59 and is disposed between lug 54 and channel 29.

It will be apparent that adjustment of the nut will swing the bearingsupporting unit 28 about the pivot 43. This will move the roller 25relative to the roller 24. The proper adjustment of these rollers tocompensate for different thicknesses in paper, which has its first foldwhen it passes therebetween, is thus possible.

It will be noted that the head 44 of the pivot pin 43 is flattened onone side, as indicated at 56 in Figure 6. With this arrangement thebearing memberl 39 may be moved up until it contacts with the flattenedportion of thepn during the time the nut 41 is being tightened orloosened on the end 46 thereof, so as to prevent rotation of the pin.With this pivot structure, it is possible merely by loosening nuts 41 tolift the units 28 and the rollers 25 and 26 carried thereby completelyfrom the frame as a single unit, the pins 43 being lifted out of slots46a. Before this is done, however, each of the lugs 54 is disconnectedfrom adjacent side wall 6 by removing the bolt 54a. Thus, it is possibleto completely remove the pair of rollers 25 and 26 in case of jamming ofthe paper.

The rollers 23 and 24 are identical with the rollers 25 and 26 and arecarried by the bearingsupporting units 21. These units 21 are-exactlythe same as the units 28. However, they are rigidly mounted on the frameby removable bolts or screws 60 since no pivotal movement is required.In this instance, the lower roller 23 is movable vertically bycompression springs like the springs 42 and the adjustments forvariation in thickness in paper is accomplished by means of the knobs 6Iat the lower ends of the units 21. These knobs 6I are accessable throughslots 62 formed in the side walls 6 adjacent the bottom of the frame. To.remove units 21 it is merely necessary to remove screws 6I).v

The rollers 23, 24, 25 and 26 are driven by means including a largepulley 63 which directly drives the uppermost or fixed roller 24 of therst pair. This pulley is carried on one end of shaft 64 and, as shownbest in Figure 4, this end of the shaft projects loosely through anopening 64a formed in the adjacent side wall 6. The outwardly projectingend of the shaft 64, which extends through large opening 64a., will notinterfere with lifting of the rollers 23 and 24 from lthe frame with theunits 21 when the screws 69 are removed. The opposite side will belifted rst and the end of the shaft 64 can gradually be pulled out ofopening 64a.

The pulley 63 is a double pulley being provided with the large portion65 and the smaller portion 66. The portion 65 receives a belt 61 drivenby an electric motor 59 carried within the frame and having its driveshaft projecting laterally through the side walls B of the frame whereit has a drive pulley 69 keyed thereon. The smaller portion 66 of thepulley drives a belt 1I which in turn, drives the pulley I4 keyed on theshaft I3 of the feed roller 9. The drive between the various rollers 23,24, 25 and 26 is by means of the spiral gearing 12 associated with theroller shaft. The direction of drive of these rollers is illustrated inFigure 5.

Paper which .passes between ftherollers 23 and 24 .enters Ainto a foldplate or .pan 13. This pan extends .downwardly .and rearwardly from thespace between the rollers .23 and '24. The end of the paper passingbetween rollers 23 and 24 will lfeed into the .pan and Contact a stopbar 14. The sheet will then be caused to buckle and the buckle portionwill pass upwardly between the rollers 2li and 25 producing a foldtherein. The folded end then passes up into .a fold plate or pan 15extending forwardly and upwardly from the space between the 4rollers -24and 25 -which has the stop bar 15. The sheet will again be buckled Aandthe buckle -portion `will pass rearwardly between the rollers -25 and26. This action is the usual action for folding machinesof this bucklingtype.

The plates or pans '13 and 15 are disposed between the -side walls f6=of lthe lframe and are mounted thereon in sa novel manner, as shownbest in Figures l .and 3. The upper pan 'i5 -is carried -by angle-members 'IB .Whichare bolted by means -ofbolts 18a 'to theside walls 6and-extend forwardly-and upwardly thereof. The pan 15 is ofnovellconstruction and rests on kthe angles '18. Adjacent the lower -ends .ofthe angles 1.8, but spaced upwardly and forwardly from such vends, are.the spring `units 18h secured to Ieach of ythe side -walls 5. Theselunits A18h bear .against the upper surface of the pan and hold itagainst `the angle members 18. Stop pins 18o are provided at the lower-ends of the angles vand engage the pan F15 to limit downward `movementon .the angles. Obviously, the pan 'I5 can be slid into .position on theangles, passing beneath the springs 18h Auntil it .engages ithe stoppins 18e. The springs lwill hold lthe pan in yfirm position ibut willpermit yeasy withdrawal thereof, It will be noted Afrom Figure 2 thatpan 'l5 is provided with shoulders 18e adjacent its 4lower end whichengage stop pins 78o. Similar shoulders 'i8 f are also providedVadjacent its upper end.

The pan 75 `includes -the upper plate 15a, and the lower lplate 15byheld in spaced relationship and clamped together by suitableclamp`bolts l5c. As shown in Figure l, lthe lower edge of .plate 15b =has aguide lip 15d1formed thereon -which will `normally be .disposed adjacentrollers 2d and 25 so as to guide paper up `into pan 15. However, in caselit -isidesired toeliminate the buckling action of pan 'I5 .and theresulting fold, block-off means is providedionlpan 15. Thismeansfcomprisesa` lip 15e formed on the upper -end of upper plate '15aand extending over v.the space between the ends of plates 15aI `and flb.When the pan l is to befblocked-o'ff, it is vpositioned, asshown in 4Figure Ala. The block-off lip e will now prevent paper from enteringinto pan l5 and will serve to guide it between rollers and y2li.The-blockoff means is always on the pan since itis apart thereofandcanbepositionedas in Figure 1 or as in Figure la. merely by swinging the pan15 around to reverse the position of .its sidel edges and its upper andlower edges. When in .the position shown in Figure 1a,-stop pins 18eengage shoulders 18f insteadof shoulders 1 8e.

The pan "I3 .is lcarried by the frame somewhat similar to vpan "I5,being supported on the angle members 13a .which Aare bolted to the sidewalls 5 of .the frame -and which extend downwardly and rearwardlythereof. Identical spring units ibare-associated-with this pan 13 andare located towards `the lower endsof the angles 13a. -In-this instance,-the pan T3 isslid upwardly into'position on the angles 13a and isretained in `position by cooperation of the springs 13b with screwheadslower ends. The springs "13b hold the pan down against the angles andthescrewheads 13e, as shown in Figure 3, engage shoulders 13d on the pan'H3 to keep the lpan from sliding downwardly and rearwardly. Obviously,this pan can be removed easily by lifting shoulder 'F3d over thescrewheads 13e against the force of springs 13b and slidingthe pandownwardly along the angles 7.43ct. This ypan need not be provided withthe block-.off means although it could `be the same structure as pan'15.

As the folded sheet leaves the rollers V25 and 26, it isdischargedvontothe delivery unit 3. This unit includes the plate ortablewhich is horizontally disposed and is carried by horizontal channel-members y8| extending rearwardly from the frame, these members 8| beingbolted to the sides -6 of the frame by means of bolts 82. A series ofbelts t3 pass over this plate y8l) and around a driving roller S4 whichis rotatably carried by bearings at the forward ends of lthe channels8|. The belts 83 at their rear ends pass around guide rolls B5 which arerotatable on a transverse yrod 86. The ends of this `rod are carried insupporting blocks Vwhich can be adjusted `easily by simple means toproperly tension the belts 5:23. As shown in Figure 8, this `meanscomprises at each end of the shaft 86 a block El in which the rod t5 ismounted. This block -81 is mounted for sliding movement in the channel8l which faces in wardly. This movement is accomplished by means of ascrew 88 which is threaded into the block El and which has a washer 89associated therewith that engages the end of the channel. Screw ASB alsopasses loosely through an opening in rod at. yWasher 8s and screwf alsohave a lock washer 39a associated therewith. Thus, by simply rotatingbolt -88 at each'side of the unit 3, the belts 83 can Ibeproperlytensioned. It will be noted that plate 8E and members BI alongwith the rollers and associated parts of the folding unit also serve toconnect side walls t together.

'We also provide novel ratchet means for driving the belts 83. Thismeans Amay be vselectively actuated to practically continuously drivethe belts or to intermittently drive them. As shown best in `Figure ll,this drive vcomprises a doubleacting ratchet mechanism.

'The roller t4 for driving the belts is provided with a roughenedsurface so that it will frictionally engage such belts which are passedaround it. One end of the shaft Sil of the roller 84 projects throughthe wall 6 of the frame, being rotatably mounted therein, and has theratchet wheel 9i keyed thereon. Mounted outside of the ratchet wheel 9|is a pawl-carrying plate 92 which carries the pawls '93 and 94 pivotallyat diagonally opposed corners. 'This plate 92 is provided with a slot S5by means of which it is slidably mounted on the outer end of shaft '9Dbeing prevented from moving laterally off the shaft by a washer and bolt96 threaded into the shaft. The plate 92 is reciprocated longitudinallyby means of an actuating rod 91. This rod 91 is driven by the eccentric98 which Ais carried on the shaft I3 of the feed roller 9.

The pawl 93 engages the top of the ratchet wheel 9| while the pawl 94engages the wheel at the bottom thereof. Therefore, a rear movement ofrod 91 causes the pawl 93 to act to rotate the wheel while a forwardmovement of the rod 97 causes the pawl 94 to rotate the wheel. Thus, therotation will be almost continuous. The pawl 94 has a counterweignt 99.formed thereon which is sufficiently heavy to normally hold the pawl 94in engagement with the wheel. The pawl 93 may be swung to the one sideout of engagement with wheel 9| and then the rotation will beintermittent since the rod 91 will only act to produce rotation duringits forward movement. It will be apparent that this arrangement willserve to drive the belts 83 and carry the folded paper rear-- wardly.

Associated with the delivery unit 3 are the usual paper retarding andarranging' springs |80 and rollers IDI which engage the paper as it isfed onto and carried by the belts 83 and keep it in order thereon untilit is removed.

It will be apparent from the above description that we have provided afolding machine having many desirable improvements. The advantages ofthese improvements have been discussed in some detail but others will beapparent.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a folding machine of the type described, a frame having twoparallel sides, folding mechanism disposed within the sides of saidframe and carried thereby, said folding mechanism including rollersarranged in vertical pairs, bearing units carrying each pair of rollers,said bearing units comprising vertically disposed channels havingbearings disposed therein for movement towards and away from each other,and means for fastening said channelsto the sides of the frame, saidmeans permitting disconnection of the channels from the frame to permitlifting of the rollers supported thereby from the frame as a unit.

2. A folding machine according to claim 1 wherein one of the bearings ineach channel is held in fixed position and the other bearing in eachchannel is movable relative thereto.

3. A structure according to claim 2- wherein a spring is disposed insaid channel for urging one of the bearings towards the other.

4. A structure according to claim 3 wherein a screw member is providedfor adjustably limiting the extent of movement of the one bearing in thechannel towards the other bearing.

5. A folding machine according to claim 1 wherein the channel memberswhich support one pair of said rollers are pivoted for swinging movementto the side walls of the frame to permit adjustment of one pair ofrollers relative to the other.

6. A folding machine according to claim 5 wherein screw mechanism isprovided for adjusting said channels about their pivots and holding themin adjusted position.

7. A folding machine according to claim 6 wherein said screw mechanismincludes resilient means for forcing said channels to the positiondetermined by adjustment of said screws.

8. A folding machine according to claim 7 wherein the pivots of saidchannels are removable to permit removal of the channels and the rollerscarried thereby.

9. In a folding machine having a supporting frame, feeding and foldingrollers arranged on said frame in vertically disposed pairs with thelower roller of each pair subsequent to the first being at substantiallythe same level as the upper roller of the preceding pair, stop platesdisposed on the frame for cooperating with the rollers for buckling thesheets advanced thereto, a bearing support for supporting one pair ofrollers on the frame for relative movement to an adjacent pair so thatone roller thereof of adjacent pairs on l0 the same level can be movedtoward and away from a roller of the adjacent pair on the same level,and an adjusting unit for moving said support to adjust said rollers ofadjacent pairs on the same level, toward and away from each other.

10. A structure according to claim 9, including a bearing support forthe adjacent pair of rollers and wherein one of said supports is iiXedto the frame and the other bearing support is mounted on the frame forrelative movement, and said adjusting unit is connected to said frameand to said movable support.

11. A structure according to claim l0, wherein each of said bearingsupports carries the rollers of the pair for relative movement of theiraxes, and resilient means carried by said support for urging the rollerstoward each other.

12. A structure according to claim 11, wherein said adjusting unitincludes resilient means for urging the movable support toward said xedsupport to urge the lower roller of each succeeding pair toward theupper roller of the preceding pair.

13. A structure according to claim 12, wherein the bearing supportscomprise channel members, bearing blocks for the rollers carried thereinfor relative movement in the channel, said resilient means for urgingthe rollers toward each other moving one of said blocks relative to theother.

14. A structure according to claim 13, wherein the movable bearingsupport is pivoted at its upper end to the frame for swinging movementabout a horizontal axis toward and away from said fixed support, saidadjusting unit being connected to the lower end of said movable supportand being anchored to the frame.

15. In a folding machine, feeding and folding rollers arranged invertically disposed pairs, units of which are pivotally mounted on theframe with one roller of one pair at the same level as one roller of anadjacent pair, stop plates cooperating with the rollers for bucklingsheets advanced therebetween, a housing mounting each pair of' rollersfor rotational movement and one of the housings being pivotally mountedfor adjustment of the rollers on the same level in the housings in adirection toward and away from each othery and means for securing thepivotally mounted housing in adjusted position.

16. A folding machine as claimed in claim 15, which includes meansconstantly urging said pivotally mounted housing in the direction towardthe other.

17. In a folding machine, folding mechanism including a frame, pairs ofrollers, bearings supporting each roller at each end for rotationalmovement, housing members mounted in the frame supporting the bearingson the end of each pair of rollers; one of said housings being pivotallymounted for movement in a direction toward and away from the other,means for adjusting the bearings in the direction toward and away fromeach other within the housing,- means for securing said bearings intheir adjusted position within the housing, means for pivotallyadjusting the housing on the frame in the direction toward and away fromthe adjacent housing, and means for securing said housings in adj ustedposition.

(References on following page) References Citedr inthe le of thispatent.

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